if you could only grow one heirloom variety for taste?
suellen45
16 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (139)
chuck60
15 years agobutchfomby
9 years agoRelated Discussions
If you could plant only two apples, and one was a Honeycrisp
Comments (7)I'm thinking you're on the northern edge of apple production and I'm not sure which varieties you're beyond the cut off point for. I assume you've looked at Snow Sweet because you're talking about 2 apples from the same breeding program. At least I know these would survive your winters and have enough season to ripen. If you're a sweet freak one of the early Fuji sports might be nice but I doubt it's hardy enough. Fact is, I don't know. If it could grow their it would keep you in sweet apples all winter. Sweet 16 is certainly true to its first name....See MoreIf you could only grow 3 herbs, what would you pick?
Comments (39)After years of growing various herbs, thyme is the one that has always been dependable, available, and trouble free, as long as I grow it in a pot in adequate sun. I have never been left without it when I go to make my favorite spaghetti sauce. (I can't say the same for oregano, despite its cooperative growth and overwintering abilities). Lemon verbena, despite its weediness, would be my second pick, as I am never without a healthful tea as long as it is anywhere on my property. Since it is so helpful in chest congestion, which is a recurrent concern for me, white horehound is my third must-have herb. Since it can be used in candy (it is very bitter otherwise), I guess it can skitter into the culinary category. I have had it overwinter in the same large pot on the north side of my home for two winters now with minimal attention. The above are the ones I have always been able to rely on; the least demanding, and the most useful to me. They have never died on me from lack of attention or hardiness, or from insect damage. I love basil and cilantro, but have had little luck with them, as they sicken and die on me because I cannot provide enough sun or consistent moisture. Sage grows well for me, but I have found that it is almost as good dried as fresh, and can be purchased in large amounts for use in tea fairly economically. Bee balm comes back for me, but I hesitate to harvest my little stand of it for fear it will give up and not come back at all; additionally, in its early growth it greatly resembles the poisonous snakeroot, which some birds have sowed in my garden. Lovage grew well for me the first year I planted it, but never again. I live close enough to several grocery stores to purchase as much celery as I want whenever--and celery is a staple that stores well. Etc....See MoreIf you could only grow 1 of each
Comments (8)Thanks for the great suggestions. I don't think I tried Opalka but may have a couple seeds...I need to check my stach. I tried cherokee purple a couple times but it cracks so badly on top for me that I get very few good tomatoes off the plant. I really do love the flavor though. I absolutely love Brads Black Heart but last year didn't get a single edible tomato due to BER. The year before only 2 or 3. I guess I am doing something wrong or my wet and often cool spring into June weather is causing a problem. Looks like I need to look for a source for the Kosovo, it seems to be a favorite by many people. I also like the brandwine and have had good luck with them before. My only problem now is I keep wanting to add "just one more" and I'll be back up to 30 or more if I don't keep things under control :) Kim...See MoreIf you could only grow 1 Plum
Comments (4)How long is your season? I think Opalka is an ~85 day variety. I've read great things about it, but I haven't tried it, yet. I imagine it must produce a lot when it starts to produce. It's got large fruits. I'm trying Polish Linguisa, Sausage, and Green Tiger, this year (first time for each variety). I've tried Roma, Oroma, Martino's Roma, Black Plum, Maglia Rosa, Scary Larry, Kara Market, Graham's Good Keeper, Porter, at least four of my own unique types, and maybe some others, as well as lots of pears, if you want to know about pears, too. My favorite plum type for production of those has been Roma. Scary Larry and Oroma have production potential. Kara Market was the earliest. Maglia Rosa was the sweetest. IMO, Scary Larry was one of the best-tasting, along with Maglia Rosa, and my own unique types, followed by Kara Market and Black Plum. Scary Larry had by far the largest fruit, followed by two of my unique types, and Oroma and Roma. The others were nearly cherry-size. Roma was probably the most practical to plant (with both a compact plant and high production), although some of the others might have done a lot better in better conditions. For pears, I like Yellow Pear, Red Pear, Chocolate Pear, Green Pear and Pakenham Pear for production. Green Pear is bigger than the red, yellow, and chocolate pears. Pakenham Pear is pretty nice in both production and larger size. Yellow Trifele is interesting, and larger, but it has always been mealy for me (not terribly prolific, either, and it got BER the second year I grew it). Beduin and Aladdin's Lamp didn't do so well the year I tried them, but they didn't have much room to grow, and they were probably over-watered. Medovaya Kaplya is extremely sweet. Cherokee Green Pear is a decent size with good flavor. Green Pear got BER the second year, too (the reseeded plant that appeared to be Green Pear didn't get BER, but the transplant did). Chocolate Pear was by far the earliest pear. Of all the pears I've grown, I'm most likely to grow Pakenham Pear and Chocolate Pear again. I'd love to get Chocolate Pear crosses with larger varieties (Chocolate Pear is cherry-sized). Chocolate Pear, Green Pear, Medovaya Kaplya, Cherokee Green Pear are my favorites for flavor....See MoreHotHabaneroLady
9 years agolabradors_gw
9 years agoHotHabaneroLady
9 years agolori_ny
9 years agosharonrossy
9 years agoseysonn
9 years agosheltieche
9 years agoseysonn
9 years agopappabell
8 years agoSeysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years agoremy_gw
8 years agocarolyn137
8 years agofireduck
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoSeysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agodisciple43
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agokudzu9
8 years agowps1122
8 years agodisciple43
8 years agokudzu9
8 years agodisciple43
8 years agonugrdnnut
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agokudzu9
8 years agocentexan254 zone 8 Temple, Tx
8 years agodisciple43
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agokudzu9
8 years agoUser
8 years agodisciple43
8 years agodisciple43
8 years agokudzu9
8 years agodisciple43
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agokudzu9
8 years agoUser
8 years agodavid_in_mass
8 years agoSeysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years agoNicki Billotte
8 years agoSeysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years agokudzu9
8 years agoSeysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years agokudzu9
8 years agoSeysonn_ 8a-NC/HZ-7
8 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoLabradors
2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agoLabradors
2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agoGary Fitzgerald
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoberrypiez6b
2 years agoLabradors
2 years ago
Related Stories
EDIBLE GARDENSSummer Crops: How to Grow Tomatoes
Plant tomato seedlings in spring for one of the best tastes of summer, fresh from your backyard
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDIf You Have Room for Only One Summer Crop ...
Get an edible that’s long on flavor even if you’re short on space, with a long-time gardener’s favorite picks
Full StorySMALL HOMESMy Houzz: Heirlooms and Family Art Fill a 1920s Bungalow
Personal touches trump a huge design budget for a Florida couple with a taste for Americana
Full StoryFARM YOUR YARDIf You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...
Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate
Full StorySUMMER FRUITS AND VEGETABLESSummer Crops: How to Grow Beans
Grow your own beans for amazing variety and healthy, convenient produce all summer
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSSummer Crops: How to Grow Squash
Almost foolproof and with cheerful flowers, squash comes in a wide range of varieties to plant in spring
Full StoryEDIBLE GARDENSHow to Grow 10 Favorite Fruit Trees at Home
Plant a mini orchard in fall, winter or early spring to enjoy fresh-off-the-tree fruit the following year
Full StoryFRUIT TREESHow to Grow Your Own Juicy Plums
Easier than other stone fruits and with a variety of colors to choose from, plums are a versatile garden addition
Full StorySUMMER FRUITS AND VEGETABLESHow to Grow Your Own Fresh, Sweet Corn
Here's how to plant and care for your own mini cornfield
Full StoryGARDENING GUIDESHerb Garden Essentials: Grow Your Own Delicious Mint
Pull out a pot for this one. Mint's spreading habit and hard-to-kill nature can be a blessing — if you're properly prepared
Full Story
daylilydude